In 1981, the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute launched the Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy program for mental health professionals. The APP program provides a combination of didactic classroom material along with twice weekly supervision groups. This affords each student an exceptional opportunity to apply theory to clinical work, and, also, greatly facilitates their evolution as psychotherapists. The American Psychoanalytic Association describes the program as “a model for psychoanalytic institutes across the country.”
The Educational Program
Purpose
The Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (APP) program provides mental health professionals with theoretical and clinical training in psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy. APP program graduates use their training for counseling and brief treatment applications, as well as the intensive psychotherapies.
Course Description
The APP Program is a two-year post-graduate training program combining classroom education and direct clinical supervision. Classes meet from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Monday evenings during the academic year at the Institute, 7700 Clayton Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63117. Each student also meets twice weekly for small group supervision of their own clinical cases. Supervisors offer a variety of current psychoanalytic clinical perspectives. Faculty and supervisors are experienced psychoanalysts affiliated with the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute.
Curriculum
The foundation for the APP Curriculum consists of courses in human development as well as classes on basic theory and clinical technique. Topics include:
NORMAL DEVELOPMENT
- Infancy and the early years
- Latency and adolescence
- Adulthood, and aging
PSYCHODYNAMIC CONCEPTS and THEORIES
- Introduction to psychoanalytic theory
- Perspectives in contemporary psychoanalytic psychology: ego psychology, object relations theory, and self-psychology
CLINICAL TECHNIQUE
- Evaluation, Diagnosis, Treatment Plans
- Beginning Phase, Middle Phase, Termination
- Theory and Process of Therapy
CLINICAL DISORDERS
- Anxiety, Affective Disorders
- Personality Disorders & Character Problems
- Borderline & Narcissistic Disorders
SPECIAL TOPICS
- Dreams
- Addictions
- Parent Work in Child Treatment
- Neuroscience
- Brief Dynamic Treatment Models
- Trauma and Dissociative Disorders
- Ethics
- Suicide
- Diversity
- Research: Efficacy & Effectiveness of Psychodynamic Treatment
- Emerging Adulthood
- How Child and Adolescent Training Informs Adult Treatment
Credit Hours
Credit may be arranged through some university programs. Continuing education credits are available for MDs, PhDs, LPCs, and LCSWs.
This unique program is open to students and graduates of accredited programs such as psychology, psychiatry, social work, psychiatric or hospice nursing, pastoral or educational counseling.
How to Apply
Online APP applications are here: APP Application
Applications are due May 15th – see below for early tuition deadline or late tuition deadline details.
Complete the online application, and SUBMIT electronically or print and mail to:
St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute
7700 Clayton Road, Suite 200
St. Louis, MO 63117
Questions? Please email recruitment@stlpi.org or call at 314-361-7075
Tuition and Financial Assistance
APP 2021-22 tuition rates below are per year for the two-year program. Tuition is subject to change annually. (Deadlines end at Midnight on each respective day).
—Early application tuition per year is $4,300 for applications received by May 20.
—Regular tuition per year is $4,737 for applications received by July 20.
—Late application tuition per year is $4,998 for applications received after July 21 and thru Sept.6.
Financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, is available from the Institute. Applicants requesting scholarships should submit by MAY 20 to be considered in the first round of allocations. If funds allow, the scholarship committee will consider scholarship applications received after MAY 20 in the order received.
A link to the Scholarship application can be found at the end of the online APP application here: APP Application
Click here for the REFUND SCHEDULE
The St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
PHYSICIANS: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American Psychoanalytic Association and the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. The American Psychoanalytic Association is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
“APP … provides additional education, more specific detail about how to engage with mental health patients than grad school does. This program supports exploring unconscious mechanisms, resolving symptomology and long-term recovery as opposed to just treating symptoms and minimizing symptomology. … For professionals, it helps you conceptualize what’s actually going on.” —Cherese Alcorn, MSW, APP ’19 graduate
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